Pimlico Stakes Schedule Worth $4 Million During 36-Day Spring Meeting

BALTIMORE, 02-19-13---The Maryland Racing Commission approved the 2013 Pimlico Race Course racing days and spring stakes schedule at its monthly meeting this afternoon. The headline event of the 10-week meeting is the 138th running of the $1 million Preakness® Stakes (G1), the middle jewel of horse racing’s famed Triple Crown, on May 18.

The marquee meet of the Maryland racing season will feature 21 open stakes races for purses of $3.775 million, an increase of $625,000. There will be additional Maryland-bred stakes races and Maryland-bred bonuses to some of the existing stakes added to the lineup, which will boost the final figure to more than $4 million for the stand.

The Preakness undercard features seven other stakes races, including four graded races. Purses for the Maryland Sprint Handicap (G3) and the Allaire duPont Stakes (G3) have been increased from $100,000 to $150,000.

The May 17 card features seven stakes races, five for fillies and mares, highlighted by the Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) for three-year-old fillies. The purse for the Black-Eyed Susan was increased for the second consecutive year, from $300,000 to $500,000. The Preakness eve card also includes the $300,000 Pimlico Special (G3).

“Having a strong stakes schedule on Preakness weekend is important,” said Maryland Jockey Club president Tom Chuckas. “We are working hard to increase the profile of the Preakness eve card. Increasing the purse of the Black-Eyed Susan by $200,000 is the first step in that direction. In addition, purses on overnight races during the meet will be raised 10-15% across the board, which should lead to larger fields and more wagering.”

In addition to the Black-Eyed Susan, Maryland Sprint and Allaire duPont increases, the other modifications to the stakes schedule are:

· Return of the $75,000 Federico Tesio Stakes (last run in 2011), the $75,000 Rollicking Stakes (last run in 2005)
and $75,000 Stormy Blues Handicap (last run in 2001)

The Pimlico spring stand will begin April 4 with live racing taking place four days a week on a Thursday through Sunday schedule prior to Preakness and then Friday, Saturday and Sunday (plus Memorial Day). The 36-day meet will end on June 8, Belmont Stakes day.

“It is essential to continue a live racing schedule through the Triple Crown,” added Chuckas. “We feel this will help sustain the momentum built during Preakness. The last three years racing ended on Preakness day and didn’t start back up until after Labor Day. This decision will allow fans who enjoyed themselves on Preakness weekend to come back sooner.”

Pimlico Spring Meeting Live Racing Schedule

April 4-5-6-7

April 11-12-13-14

April 18-19-20-21

April 25-26-27-28

May 2-3-4-5

May 9-10-11-12

May 16-17-18

May 24-25-26-27

May 31-June 1-2

June 7-8

The Pimlico stable area will be open for training from March 18 through June 10.

The current Laurel Park winter meeting will conclude its 13-week run on Saturday, March 30.

Date

Track

Stakes

Grade

Conditions

Distance

Purse

6-Apr

Pimlico

Dahlia

F& M 3 & UP

1 mile (T)

75,000

20-Apr

Henry Clark

3 & UP

1 mile (T)

75,000

20-Apr

Primonetta

F& M 3 & UP

6 furlongs

75,000

20-Apr

Stormy Blues

3 YO Fillies

5 furlongs (T)

75,000

27-Apr

Federico Tesio

3 YO

1 1/16 mile

75,000

17-May

Black-Eyed Susan

II

3 YO Fillies

1 1/8 mile

500,000

17-May

Pimlico Special

III

3 & UP

1 3/16 mile

300,000

17-May

Miss Preakness

3 YO Fillies

6 furlongs

100,000

17-May

Jim McKay Turf Sprint

3 & UP

5 furlongs (T)

100,000

17-May

Hilltop

3 YO Fillies

1 1/16 mile (T)

100,000

17-May

The Very One

F& M 3 & UP

5 furlongs (T)

100,000

17-May

Skipat

F& M 3 & UP

6 furlongs

100,000

18-May

Preakness

I

3 YO

1 3/16 mile

1,000,000

18-May

Dixie

II

3 & UP

1 1/8 mile (T)

300,000

18-May

Gallorette

III

F&M 3 & UP

1 1/16 mile (T)

150,000

18-May

Maryland Sprint

III

3 & UP

6 furlongs

150,000

18-May

Allaire DuPont Distaff

III

F&M 3 & UP

1 1/16 mile

150,000

18-May

Chick Lang

3 YO

6 furlongs

100,000

18-May

James W. Murphy

3 YO

1 mile (T)

100,000

18-May

Rollicking

2 YO

5 furlongs

75,000

1-Jun

Canonero II

3 YO

1 1/8 mile

75,000

About Pimlico Race Course

Pimlico Race Course is a Stronach Group company, North America’s leading Thoroughbred racetrack owner/operator. The Stronach Group racetracks include Santa Anita Park, Gulfstream Park & Casino, Golden Gate Fields, Portland Meadows, Laurel Park and Pimlico Race Course, home of the world-famous Preakness. The company owns and operates the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida and is one of North America's top race horse breeders through its award-winning Adena Springs operation. The Stronach Group is one of the world's largest suppliers of pari-mutuel wagering systems, technologies and services. Its companies include AmTote, a global leader in wagering technology; Xpressbet, an Internet and telephone account wagering service; and Monarch Content Management, which acts as a simulcast purchase and sales agent of horseracing content for numerous North American racetracks and wagering outlets. The Stronach Group is also a major producer of televised horse racing programming through its HRTV cable and satellite network and is North America's premier supplier of virtual online horse racing games, as well as a leading producer of social media content for the horseracing industry.

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